The Selection: One of the Selected

12: The Rebels

'What was that?' I asked, and all colour drained from both my maids' faces.

Rose repeated "no" many times, and Lily rushed me to a hidden passage in the corner of my room that I hadn't seen before.

'This leads to a safe room. The rebels must be here. Lily, go find out what the status of them are, where they are from, where they are now. Miss, get in here quickly,' Rose commanded, but I held them both back.

'But where will you go? What about Bessie?' I asked, and the maids gently shrugged my grip off. 

'We have our own safe room,' Rose said.

'But is it as good as ours?' I insisted.

Lily shook her head while shrugging. 

'So come with me!' I half-shouted, not wanting to direct attention to my room.

'Sorry miss...' Rose said, and they left my room.

'Wait!' But I didn't try for long, as the thuds downstairs gradually got louder. I crouched down, and rushed through the long, dingy tunnel.

At the end, I found everyone apart from America waiting in a dimly lit grey room; the queen, the king, Silvia, Maxon and all the girls. Maxon gave me a small smile as I entered, but all attention was switched to America...and her maids.

'I didn't want to leave them behind,' she explained.

Silvia tried to get them to fetch some water for everyone, but America shot back some fiery remarks. Some girls looked at her in awe, and Maxon smiled proudly at her. I gave a tight lipped smile to her. I had tried to do the same as what she did, but now couldn't say so without seeming as if I was seeking for the spotlight.

America came to me and Marlee, and her maids hovered behind her, unsure of what to do.

'Come, sit,' America instructed them, and they did so. A few girls came over and asked how she had thought of to bring them, while I looked on with...jealousy.

Marlee seemed to notice something was wrong, and leant to my ear.

'Are you alright, Quinn? You keep looking at America strangely.'

'Oh, yeah, it's fine...look, I really do not want the spotlight at all but...well, I actually tried to bring my maids too, but they refused. I promise it's true, I swear...' but I trailed off when I saw Marlee's frown.

'Marlee, I'm not seeking attention-'

'Are you sure? Because that really is what it sounds like. Let America be in the spotlight for once,' she said, and looked away from me, her face perhaps too nice for true disgust, but it was as close as she would get.

She whispered to America, who looked past Marlee to me. I curled up in a corner, resting my head on my knees, and shut my eyes, as I spotted others were trying to sleep.

After an hour or so, I heard Maxon murmuring to America quietly.

'There are two types of rebels: the North, and the South,' he was explaining. 'The North just tend to bother us, but are easily scared away. The South...you know if it's them. And they often bring death with them.'

'So which ones are these?' America asked him, just as quietly.

'South. These are South.'

'But-'

'They are in the palace, yes. The guards know how to protect us, and recently we had a draft of new men come in too. You should sleep now, though, America. It's getting late.'

And not long after, their breaths became even.

~ * ~

We were awoken by a guard running in to say the rebels had gone, so Silvia got us to line up to get ready to leave. The twinge in my heart as America and Marlee went to the opposite of the line to me could not be ignored, but I instead focused on the badge he was sporting on his uniform: Avery. So this was the guard that Rose and Lily were talking about.

Thinking of my maids pushed my thoughts to Bessie. Where would she be now? Would she be alright?

We wandered up in a crocodile through a pathway, and exited to a corridor. 

'Girls, you will receive breakfast in your rooms today. Off you go now!' Silvia instructed, and we all dispersed into different directions.

I just went quickly, not wanting to wait for Marlee or America.

My maids weren't in my room, but that was the least of my concerns.

Bedsheets strewn across the room, my desk toppled on the floor, glass from photo frames littering the floor. A curtain was torn, shredded even, and strings peppered my carpet. I was stock still, absorbing the mess of my room.

'H...hello?' I whispered, as if anyone hiding would answer. 

I shuffled through the room, not wanting to lift my foot and tread on something sharp. When I deemed it empty of anyone else, I realised my best option would be to check if Marlee or America's room was destroyed too.

Marlee was just next door, so I slipped out my room and knocked on her door. There was no answer. Had rebels got her?

I cracked open the door, scared at what I would find...Marlee, and a guard who I recognised as Officer Woodwork...kissing? But that was against the rules! It was the rule punishable by...by death!

'Marlee?' I asked, shock and embarrassment at finding them laced into my voice.

They hurriedly broke away and Marlee's face dropped of colour. 

'Quinn...Quinn please don't tell anyone, it just...happened!' pleaded Marlee, as Officer Woodwork slowly stepped out of sight.

'I- alright, just make sure you are safely hidden next time. Sorry,' I stammered, and let myself out.

Once I shut the door behind me, my brain tried to process what had just happened. Marlee...did she have feelings for this guard, or was it because Maxon wasn't giving her enough attention? She seemed to be the last person to hurt anyone, so I ruled out the latter. 

Did America know? I remembered my original mission, and hastily went to her room.

'America? America, did you-' I nudged the door open, and saw America pressed against...another guard? 

I knew his name, as he was often gossiped about by the girls and maids, Officer Leger.

They sprung apart as if I had shot a gun, and Officer Leger appeared prepared to do just that.

'Woah, woah,' I panicked, backing away, 'I won't tell anyone...if you put that gun away from pointing at my head, Mr Leger.'

He hesitantly lowered it, and I scurried out the room.

Am I the only one not getting with guards?

A/n: Sorry this part came a bit late, I couldn't publish it yesterday! 

Thank you for reading!